Mail box



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,314

- c. wEls MAIL Box F118@ may 12, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 "In I Umm 7 'L a.,

Charles Sept. 22, 1925.

vcz. wx-:ls

' MAIL Box Filed May l2 1922' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 il'll' Charles VVLs INVENTOR Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,314

l c. wEls MAIL BOX Filed May 12. 1922 4 sheets-sheet 4 l 319.10. l Y

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, A1925.

oHARLESWEIS, orfifalasnALE, PNNsYLyANIA, r*AssiIsfnoeori'rufo-TimminsiTo.,

j HARVEY- 3. Lufrz ANnHAnRYgM., ooHN,

` Appncauon ined: nay 12',

Tb 'c/,ZZ idiom t may concern-z:

"Be nit known that I, CHARLES ,li/Vins, a citizen"oii the `|United States, lresiding at Lansdale, inthe county "ot" Montgomery and State/*oit Pennsylvania, lhave invented new and useful Improvements in MailBoX'eS, of vi-hic-h'the.following is a specification.

This 'invention'frelates yto niailboxes and inail bags or containerstherefor in which the contents of said inail 'boit` are delivered to a bag or containerI through panautoinatically: opened and auton'n'iticallyV closed hinged bottoni of said box when thebag or container which f is provided' with aftop fraine'is `projected or pushedinto receiving position thereunder. v LAmong other objects this invention laiins to provide a inail boxhaving a hinged bottoni which `is adapted Vto iiorinallyz'retain and' loclrsaid'bottoinin closed position with relation'to the box body, 'saidbottoin being adaptedl to unlock andxperinit 'theliinged part tliereotto swing open an'd'autoinatic'allydelivenor drop the 4contents 'of saidl inail box into'y alniail` bagorcontainer Vwhen the top or traine of saidinail bagorcoir taineil ris projected orpushed into receiving position under the' mail box-:1 At the s'anie tiine the insertion of `theinail bag or container under the mail boXunloclrs and opens* the bag ready to receive the contentent/the" box4 and automatically 'closes and'loels the hingedbottoin of saidniailbox` and the top oi aibag or container whenthe latter. is with'- ence tosaid inail `box.4 1

Another objectv of this invention is to provide a inail box of the type above referred te 'characterised'by ineans for indicating the time of the next collection of' inailv `,fromr the box' and ineans for automatically unlock# ing; 'this 'indicatingl ineans" upon'the opening' ell the box so' that the indicator niay beset for the next collection' and autoinatically locliedin set position upon the closing of tlie box. "lilith theforegoingr andotlier objects in view thisA invention consists `essentially.' inV the novel features of construction, combinations and `arrangeinents of'parts hereinafter' fully described vand ineres'pe'ciiically definedVY bythe appended claims.'

'In thefurther discl'osuie'ot1 `the invention retei'enceis to be had to the'accornpanying drawn from receiving p'osition' `with relier-1 sheets of explanatory drawings constituting Bofill-I or., LANCASTER, yrnimsYLvANL/i.

1922. serial rassegne. 'y

` apart of this speciiication and in which lile' characters et' reference designatethe'saine or: corresponding partsin all the views. y

#Figure 'lis a Airont elevation voi: the inail" b'oxwith the fraineand inail bag in 'reeeivw ing'position thereunder, part of 'said 'bag l being broken away for ease in illustration.

Figure'is asideelevation partly Vin sec-v tio-n'ta'lren substantially 'on the lineQ-Q in Figure"1,andlooling inithe'direction of the' arrows, Vsaid "ligure illustrating the' top raineot theinail bagland showing the bag traine as attached to the box'with thein'eans for locking` yand mounting the inail bag as' well as the nieansonthetranieoractuat-` nisin.

/Figure 8 is 'a' side elevation of the inailV box and inail bag' with the topi traine of' the bag iny receiving` rposition .and .Showing 'the position 'of some of the co-operating parts on the traine andboX y'when said box is un'- lockcdto discliarge'its contents. -vFigure 4- is abottoin plan view of the inailbag A cariyingf'' trarne'v and Villustrating "the means fon' which said inail bag 'is inounted aswell asthe means for attaching thetraine to the:'niail'box'to'unlocli the bag, said traine' being shown fin. locked position "without the bag; attached.:` f

f Figure l'isa vertical crossVv sectionalA view taken substantiallyA on the line 5*-5 in Fig# ui'efS' a1idl'ool `iiig in the direction of the airowsthereon, said figures showing 'the in@ tei'ior `ofthe-iboi", the bag carrying traineV being' removedv and tlie'box bottoin'closed;v sonic vofthe interior'box locking ineans not" being'shown for convenience in illustration.

5 Figure Gis a vertical section taken 'sub-v stantially on the line 6-6 in Figure l and lookingin the direction oi the arrows there-l on, said figures Vshowingl a portion oithein` terior of the box with the inail bag` reinoved and the box bottoinr closed aswell as illus! trat-ing'the `indicator locking rdevicel and ing the box` unlocking and "locking niecha-` seine or" the box bottoniY locking and control-v ling'm'eansr* f v F igure 7' is a sectional view of the front of the'flower portion oi` the inailboX with theniail' traine 'attached`v said view 'beine' taken substantially on'the line 7447 in` Figure 2, vand looking' in the direction of the arrow' thereon; the mailbag` proper not beine` shown in its traine thus indicating the relation of' seine ofthe cia-operating ineens `Fien ms .ailueleratiQH-ll. .detail Ot the n bottoni vloclnngfmechanisms yenlftlre opposite i1inei`"s1des' 'of' said 'mail box withV mail i one side of the easing containing this meeha msm removed and showing the relation of the lock members whenthetbotto-inlis,closedi and locked, the dotted lines indicating the positionfgof :thei'loe'ki'ngparts" when in the'.

Open position;V u

Figurel9 is aplanlview ofthe mechanismv shownei'n Figure `andwindicating the fdispos'ition aofi; the I parts' Within and fon' thef easii'ig,I said easing being shown 1n cross se c'y e l engaging:saidrrodsi5; and thefbagr con-vv tionaandy' i H i :i A,

- Figure '1011s an ienlarged- View 1n' elevation ofi the :latch membersshoW-n in Figures 8. and 9..:Witlrtlie `inset.Avliiclrperinits the'unl locking/'off One;` offthe other cofoperatin'g:y

sliding lock ikmembers enclosed in lthe casing.'

-f Referring morevparticularly to the 1 drawings a substantially rectangularly? shaped box-body,y 11': isl provided with hingede bottom oi';ffall .doivndoors v2 that are adapted to be actuated by a sliding frame 3 engaging .the

lower portions of the opposite outer sides of f thehoX-body -The 1 sliding frame 3, is p-ro.-v vided" with supporting rods- 57 f adapte'dto carry.; by rings vor any *otherl suitable meansa bag or container 6 for receiving the mail' oticontents 'of thebox.l Hthin the boxbody lthere is'provided` azchute or. funnel-v like adevice 7 for guiding themail in litsde-` livery from-'theboX; "the mailbeing received: intothe lbon`y through van aperture or' opening S" near vthe top portion of one side The front face of theboxiis of the box. v W providedfwvith an- 4indicating device `9,'.fto be operated manuallfy ,by theumail collectorjfto indicate thee'tinie of lnext collection of mailf and itiiswencasedbehind la .facefor dial `l0: hinged to 'theffront of the boit-body` andf is llocked in Closed p'ositio'nby a latch orf plungerl; slidably carried'on the inner side oftheffront ofthe box-body and actuated by;

the'swinging'open or shutting 'of onehinged framewvhich z has av hox-like1 formation .and is provided with a series of openings'or slots'Y 17 similar in number, shape andY position'to theteeth orl projections 15'on the hoxand they are adapted to receive said .teeth theres in. The teeth lorfprojet-:tions15 lentering.- the slots :17 engage a series'fof spring actuated' and. controlled latches 18,.registering in or over .jsalid'slots 17', said" latches-'18being mountedwithin said ybox-like member with one ofl their. endsA '19 rigid andltheir `other end; free? to-oseillate upwardly :and l down- MWardly.The opposite sides of the sliding franie are .t provided; Y,iyitli runners 420ste 'sl'idably "t Alock'"i'ne'mb between saidr opposite sides-"of sa`i'cl`lfi'ianie' andform a-channel guiding the travel of said sliding lock member 16. Placed substantially beneath-said Runners 2O are supporting or carrying rods 5 mounted at one end in a cross member '21. of ythe frame rand their otherf endsv being held in rigid yrelationl to the frame and. beneath said 4rod by'supportl ing brackets@22,!said1rods 5 being adaptedv 'to' carry 'afimail bagfi'orizcont'ainerf6 thereon" f sli'dably.-r l", Rings 231 or:4 other f suitable means.`

The vopposite'; sides or top edges "ofI Ibag or container ftliat are 'not` attachedto` the: rings I 2301i the'i'odsf ar'ezfattached lixedlyitotthe cross members f 21 of: the frame and toE al de! pending :'eiztenrsiori` 2&7 of'v and 'beneath'y the hottomof ther'sliding lock member 16 'sothat the edge of the bag 6 attachedf'toithe',crossj member l '21 -is 'held {iX-ed. to said Vframe g vthe opposite :edge of .the bag being attached "tov theextension' beneath the cross member.'

21is carried 'forwardery backivardovith the movement 4of the sliding lock member y16 and blythismeansthebagis opened or Shutjb'yy tlie'niovement: ofvtheylock member@f rPhe. cross member lrisap'rovided With :a iSeries of slots yfor 1 openings 125 von? a` i rearwardly cxtended-portion; which 'are-3 adapted fto; rel ceiveY teeth orf proj ectionsi` 9,6 extending from within thev boxflike rportionf of :the sliding` lock'4 member y16 through openings 27, andv engage fthe slots for openings 25 and by means of *springs QSioperatingnupon said: teeth or projectionsf-QG Within said VVbox-like member to look' said-;slidingwmeinber- 16 to said cross member 2150if said lfr'a'mei and 'thereby lock f theibag lor container 6 `init's closed position.V Upon the opposite side,longitudinalmeinberspf the frame Sand" on theiupper surface of'said membersfis' iixed a camf29 zivhich .iis so'placed andi of such shapet that the for- Wardiends and upper surfaces of said cams, WillV engagea and vactuate --a r, plurality of; latches arrangedl in y co-opei'ative relation therewith Ain ra-cas'e 30 oir thei opposed inner facesfofwthefmailbox11. ft i.: r w i Referringunoiv'to the `mailqbox afn'd itsY drop bottom doors 2, said doors are hinged" on a series ofV hinges A81y .arranged internally of the box-:body -insueh mannerthatr when saiddoors arelnot held in closedf'locked `po'v sition they willI simultaneously lswing down- Wardly open vby their oivn Weight -or the force of gravity and thus delivery the oontents of the box intothemail bag 6 .ivhich toca-use such-droppingmust atthat time be placedin operative relationi'thereunder.

lil() In my mail boxasfshown in the accompanying drawings I have provided a'bot-tom V y y y the casing '30 toward the interior of the boxk in such position and extent as to normally" lie in easy contact with the arm of the` closure comprising two doors2, 2 meeting substantially in tliemiddle section of the mailbox bottom, but it lisevident that l may,

construct the' boxwith asingle door hinged to one'side of said box only and `effect the same discharge of itsk contents by the operai tion of 'applying-thefmail bagfr'aine thereunder. lnthis doubledoor construction I have provided a lilik connection 32 control- Y ling the simultaneous dropping and lifting of the doors 2, 2. The link 32 is pivotally' mounted at'one end to abracket 38 which is carried upon the inner face of o ne door 2- for examplefwwhile its other end is pivotally mounted Ato a bracket or bearing 34' which f L ner as to be free tooscillate to a limited de gree and engage the 'catch members `35 or be disengaged therefrom. This bearing -37 is a stud`bolt ormother similar means aiiixed to the case 804 and extending ,outwardly therefrom but within the inner body of the box.

In the casing there is contained rocking and sliding members that control an loperation of the latch `lever 36 and inci, dentally the locking and unlocking 'of thel box bottom. Rockably mounted on a stud 38 is the ylatch member 39 normally held whenr the box ,bottom is locked in lowered position as shown in solid lines in Figure 8 by means'of a spring40`,"which spring is mounted 'von a post 4l carried Awithin lthe frame 30 s o thatthe outer end of said spring contacts with the `latch member 39 near its free "end to` hold the same in the position aforemen'tio'ned. This latch member SQ'Car` ries van extended arm or member 42 which projects through an opening 43--Figure 3- in the side of the casing BOandthrough an opening iny the bodyof themail box so that the cam 29 aforementioned ymay engage said arm 42 and operate said latch member 38 when saidcam `29'assumes "a position in Contact therewith. Slidably mounted against theone face of the latch member 39Qand supported ona bent-in face oredge of the box member 30 and guided and limited in moveinentby thestud 38 is a dog carrying member 44. This dog carryingmember 44 is vprovided on its opposite side with extended arms or dogs 45,' 46. `The armn or dog 45 extends outwardly through an opening 47i-Figure 3+in the casing 430 in such position and extent as to be engaged by the end 48V ofthe' cam 29 when the frame 3 isplaced inpositionun'der the lbox to open the bottom doors 2, 2" thereof. The 4arm or dog '46 extends through an opening 49 in latch lever 36 and act asa stop therefor yand as a means to' actuatesaid latch lever 36 and disengage it 4from rlocking position with the catches when the end 48 ofthe cam '29 abuts against the dog and thereby'moves both the dogs 45, 46 and permits the box bottoms 2, 2 to be released and opened. rlhe f dog carrying member 44 is held in position by the Contact of a spring held upon a post provided for mounting the same within the casimT 30;

,"Thefsliding movement of the dog carry'- ing member 44 is limited by a stop 38'working in a slot 50 near one end' of the body of the dog carrying member. There is further provided within the casing 30 a substantially Zshaped latch or plunger 5l which is permittedI a substantially vertical movementin said casing 30V and it has an arm52 projecting outwardly fro-1n said c asI the main body portion of the plunger l'is4 provided with an inset portion 54 andthe outwardly extending portion `52 has oney edge beveled. The outwardly extended portion 52 of the plungeif 5l' is so positionedA that when the frame carrying the mail bag 'is slidk forward into engagement with'V the mail box so that the cam 29 is about to en?,`

gage the dog 45 and the post or stud ,42; the

lift said extended arm 52 of said plunger 51 and thereby raise saidvplungeryand in' soj -end of the frame will Contact with and Y doing will lift the inset portion 54 of said V plunger upwardly to such an extent that tli'e y sliding dog carrying member 44 will be unf locked and free to move upon the stud or in* Figure S-and the box will be atthat time unlocked. n A mounted within the mail box,but on'the The latch lever 36 which is;`

outer side ofthe casing 30 is provided with a-pinor stud 56 intermediate its endsiwhichV extends within the casing and is engaged l by'one end of a spring 57 which is mounted at its other end on a stud or post 58 in the interior of said casing 30, tlie'spring 57 Y acting on the post 56 of Vthe Vlatch leverfBG bottoms closed. Vhen the frame has beenV ynormally holds said latch lever in engagement with the catches 35 and locks the boxi `13 mounted Lupon theagu'idegs f2 ott-liefmailbon open-,,-'l`he findioatorliavingibgngrest band pushedforwardly;thefiirst,operationeel. fore/th@ Withdrawal otfntfhe' ramef-.tl'iertrameifY is them-Withdrawn, i the'bottoi'ndoors) closed? fralfnefitogicontact nwithv the plungerA glfand'l? and presuminga the Y dial; to have been? olosedo.

engagement i'vithr tho post; 42 4andy lifting 1 th el thefbottomf doors lforce thezplunger 13 again y7a in'to; en'gagen'ient lwith the openll'igx :G2 and the,

,immediately ysub'setpie'nt--the fend A28 if of rather :by: the oamf 29!y also, :frees the.. lmemberl 44" for l a section/ 2"` that is vsomewhat ydropped bel'owff v thelevelgofi.tliefhingefportion/i; This; portion 3:

movement While the abutment of the'endJlS of-fthefcam 29,1 against the dog 415 i moves the melnber'f'44longitudinally?inf itsffoasing,v 30

thefmoiieinient ,fof ythei, frame., 'At f kthe sa me timetthisgmovem'entgcarries the ,-'b'ag fully haying. 2 ati the samey timel unlockedthe, 'bag' toner-mit aid ino'vementr andopenino otqthe The; collector; :having thus opened th e- Ybon v.

the- ,oollect ion indicator harsb'een vreleased `or unlocked iforL changing :so fthat@ the' lti'me 'ot nen-t colletion voan'lbe in dioatech if -The indi` of; the-ni ailfboxv ,E dial 4isv arranged' inthe collection Ihasy been made f fand the iframei `is being; Withdrawn the i door, f 2 will? y therebdi sooner Contactl with th'ef cross 'end .iiiembeirl ofthe lframe aiifd -willl soonerl closegandflocli'i The funnel, -or= guide portion 7 t I .providei'l'j in' the; interior` of YtheboxA fis; for? the pur- 41 pose of? directing the maill Aor oth'en con- I; tents iof `the boi;y away from, itfhe-T link, ando` latch members and .prevent anyE interferenoe y with? itsfmembersIl ort avoid the possibilityi1 of theunintendedy retention ofanyfomail matter inth'elbioxbybeing .cau'glitin saidq; memberss -,Byf `the; combination, 'ofV {bag and; box for. {loe'lingg and unlocking'.l each', other,v f fO it is= f impossible v praetioallyv fory an y'article--. of mail-toybe lost iin/:deliveryl :troinftltepl box.' to., thel bag,- vor? .for the' carrier: ,to lopen the bag r during" ,his l travel from'. vpoint to, pointv o' r'Coll'e'otion.l g y"I provide; means simif .95' lar to the dotted edge on the front of the box,fin' the;gdeliiieiiyf'foiliee; toiinlocln the bags lWh en received-from the. carrier l 1 This J preventsy danger from theft and care-lessness--,

in y 'handling' thegma'ilf during, 4travel l ?3,f.- tliei 100.

,carrieiy totheiboxfatll andhaving anfarm lQ-pr'oi jecting through an opening; ,into the face, ofl

th e =1 ifiz i ilboxfsaidj arm 12. being-f 'adapted to be ,engaged :bygalatoli 13. T hi's Ylatch is :per-@2 innjer gside of the :boXi front, The plunger: yor latch 13 in normal yposition engagesan open-.I

thujsif looking-` said :dial closed I and prevent ing "th-ei movement yof the @indicating` hands 1-tlie fmail box A until' :the resinsertion f of the From? the 'foregoing description -and fan t'l examination ofthe'drawingslit will be' clean-f;-

provided a novel r`andautomatic `mailzfbagv iwf attaching` andyreleasing gineans :oreobpfl e erationwith a mailbox, the same-*being of! a lcl'iaracter 'and nat-ure which.'eileetively pre-i',A vents the letter-carrier vfrom. interfering yor 'i y y f; tampering l withithe a 'mail' in i any? manner'.` .-.i l in {a-bearingf- 61 lwhich is mounted on-ithe lStill further I `Wish to: point :outv that n Y Aone practical 'embodiment yof'my inventi'onfv ing. 62Min the arm;512;,-Wlienitheaoefor'dialiE .isf closedand the post ,of thegbox'are closed,.

the same is :not lto rbefftoo conserva tit'fely-u-1 construed in` Ythat .fit willy be obvious totv thosef r l i acquainte'd Withfyjthe art/'thatrnuinerous e changes and modifications sin' fthefi various aftei'fafmail collection and 'a' withdrawal iol' the frame andba'g'froin'engagement' with;

this? flocking, of.; the; dial' lis* las follows :I Pre'- e define'dbythel appended volaims.j w t siiming'thef' dial to be 'originally` .locked in it-snorma'lipositionthe ramefand bag' is in^ sertedinv/engagementwith :the mail bag'as vters'Pate'nt yis :y

13 Whiolris supported by the'door'salso drops and vdfisengages itself l from: the openingv 62A 'and-remains disengaed While the doors are parts and their :co-operativer relations f may be' evolved Without finany sense'departing` n vention and; as" hereafter v`morespeciiicallyI Having Ydescribed my I inventio'm"what I a claim asy new rand desire jtoseeure .byfluebV In? ...Y 5 7: '..o

l'rlnfa mail box the Comb'inatioir'of 'am box-bocly,fall: down' doors hingedthereinfan indicator' dialonzthe outer-face. oflv saidf box body,' rotatablyy mounted'findicatorsco; o operating4 W1th;said 'dial',f'a lidv or vcover V o hinged to the face of said b0xbody, an arm.

extending into said box-body integral with said cover, a pin or plungerslidably mounted Within said box body adapted to be supported by said fall down doors When said doors are closed and engage the extended arm of said dial cover to look same closed and to be disengaged from said arm when said doors are opened.

2. In a mail box, a boxbody, fall down doors hinged therein, a dial on the outer 'lfaee of said box-body, a cover hinged to the face of the box-body, an arml extending into said box-body, a plunger slidably mounted Within said box-body and'adapted to be supported by said doors when said doors are closed and engage the extended arm of said dial cover to lock the same closed and to be disengaged from said arm when said doors are opened. e

8. In a mail box, a box-body, a front extended edge thereon, opposite guide mem-r bers laterally extending from said box-body on opposite sides thereof, fall-down doors mounted in said box-body, latch means to hold said doors normally elosed,means slid able on said extended guides to aetuate said Alatch member and open or elosesaid doors,

a dial on the outer face of the boxbody, a cover hinged to the face of thefbox-body, an arm on said @over and extending into the box-body, a plunger slidable Within the box-body and adapted to be supported by said fallsdown doors when the doors are closed and engage said arm to look the same extending into said box body integral With said cover, a pin or plunger slidably mounted within said box body adapted to be supported by said fall down doors When said doors are closed and engage thefextended arm of said dial cover to vlock lsaid door closed and to be disengaged from said arm when said doors are open.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

CHARLES WEIS. 

